Compare towns
Peru vs Athol vs Sandisfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Sandisfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Peru | Athol | Sandisfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
12,011Highest |
994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
49.9±7.5 25% above MA |
| Peru and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Sandisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.8%±4.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sandisfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$91,111±$23kHighest 12% below MA |
| Sandisfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$360,300±$34kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,250±$220Highest 29% below MA |
| Sandisfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Highest 36% below MA |
$3,403 43% below MA |
$3,328Lowest 44% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sandisfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sandisfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | — |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.